Houston @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 13, 2016 ) Houston 7, Boston 6

The Houston Astros fought fire with fire as they outslugged the high-octane Boston Red Sox to even their four-game series at one victory apiece. After keeping the white-hot Red Sox in single digits for the first time in five outings, the visiting Astros vie for their fifth win in seven contests on Saturday afternoon when the teams reconvene at Fenway Park.

George Springer followed a two-run double with a two-run blast in Houston's 7-6 win on Friday to improve to 6-for-13 with two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored in his last three games. Marwin Gonzalez added a pair of RBI singles for his fifth multi-hit performance in eight outings, but is just 3-for-12 with four strikeouts versus Saturday starter Clay Buchholz. Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. continued his torrid stretch with two singles and a double to extend his hitting streak to a majors-best 19 games this season. The No. 9 hitter in the lineup, Bradley is a staggering 15-for-25 stretch (.600) with three homers and 15 RBIs in his last six contests and is 3-for-4 versus Saturday starter Collin McHugh.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS1, ROOT (Houston), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Collin McHugh (4-3, 5.50 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (2-3, 5.90)

McHugh improved to 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in his last three starts on Sunday after allowing one run on five hits in seven innings of a 5-1 triumph over Seattle. The 28-year-old has been taken deep four times in that stretch, however, and he was ripped for five runs on 10 hits in four frames in a 6-2 setback to Boston on April 22. McHugh has split four career decisions versus the Red Sox, although his .330 batting average against leaves plenty to be desired.

Buchholz is doing his best to rebound from a disastrous start by winning back-to-back contests, although Boston's potent offense aided in Monday's outing - a 14-7 victory over Oakland. The 31-year-old yielded four runs against the Athletics, marking the fifth time in seven outings that he has allowed at least that many. Buchholz was taken to task by the Astros on April 23, falling to 3-1 in his career versus the club after permitting five runs in 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 setback.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston 1B Hanley Ramirez is riding an 11-game hitting streak at Fenway Park.

2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve is 11-for-25 (.440) with six runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.

3. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts has collected a career-high five straight multi-hit performances.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Astros 2